Former Tottenham star Graham Roberts described Harry Winks as an "average player" in June, and the midfielder has not yet proven the criticism wrong with some forgettable displays this season.
Winks was in a Premier League starting line-up for the first time this season on Saturday, in the London derby against Crystal Palace.
The Lilywhites lost 3-0 and the 25-year-old came off after 60 minutes, providing a very average performance.
Before the fixture against Patrick Vieira's side, Winks had only played three minutes of Premier League football in this campaign, when he replaced Steven Bergwjin in the 1-0 victory over Wolves.
Winks failed to influence the game in a meaningful way, and although he played 30 minutes more, on-loan Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher proved a far greater impact.
Although Winks only had two unsuccessful passes, he only had two around the box whereas Gallagher was making himself available all over the pitch.
Former Spurs defender Graham Roberts previously compared Winks' advancement to former Arsenal player, Jack Wilshere. He outlined their similarities with Winks showing his good form when the Lilywhites were in the Champions League and Wilshere doing the same against Barcelona, when he was a teenager.
"They think, ‘oh yeah, I’ve done it there’ but you haven’t done it since and that’s the problem you’ve got," he said when speaking to This Is Futbol.
"They live on what they used to do. It’s not about that, it’s about living what you do today,”
During the summer transfer window, the north London club had interest from Aston Villa and Everton for Winks but with a £40million price tag, the interest didn't go very far.
The midfielder played 90 minutes in both legs of the UEFA Europa Conference League, with a better display on home turf, but with no stand-out performances so far this season, he may find it hard to get into the regular starting 11.
In June, Roberts also criticised Winks' way of play, when speaking to Football FanCast.
"He’s gone Mr Conservative, he plays simple, and if I don’t give the ball away, I’m a great player. You’re not, he’s become an average player, and that’s being fair."
Tottenham's next fixture is their first Europa Conference League group game, where they will travel to France to play Rennes.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side will then return to N17 for another London derby, where they'll face Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea.
Winks will be hoping to get some more game time to try and prove he deserves a place in the starting line-up, but will need to show something more than the other midfield options who are currently performing better.
